It’s been more than a minute since I was forced/encouraged to stand in front of a class, shy and excited, competing for attention as I struggled to read my terrible handwriting on how I spent my summer vaca. I can guarantee that I trimmed my truth and enhanced our destinations for teenage listening pleasures. Looking back, that was simply the writer in me making its presence known.
Like narrative writing, music connects different people in a variety of ways. It is a universal language, essentially regulated by genres and emotions. Also, music is an extraordinary landscape that in recent years, has become dominated by who’s dating who, glossy over-productions and image-driven personas. So, I find it to be such a welcome change of pace to discover in the midst of all this (sometimes necessary hoopla) a young woman from Clearwater, Florida named Cloe Wilder, who is neither loud nor brash…just her. Though Cloe made her entrance in this industry at the age of 14, three years later, she continues to successfully stand out with her unique and authentic approach to singing and songwriting on stage that is jammed packed with artists working to be the “the next (Fill-In Artist Name Here).”
Cloe’s new EP I Spent My Summer on the Road, released on April 24, is a journey through personal experiences and deep emotions. Each track is a window into break-ups and self-image struggles, while inviting listeners to process these feelings alongside of her. By baring her young soul through music, Cloe creates a space for reflection and empathy, reminding us of the power of honesty and vulnerability in art. With just five tracks and soft beats that provide another essential element, I Spent My Summer on the Road captures the essence of youth, love, and adventure, painting a vivid portrait of a summer filled with highs and lows. Reminiscent of and a welcome throwback to 2015 Billie Eilish, Cloe Wilder has a tone and voice that is grounded like a veteran headlining a Coachella set. From the infectious hooks of “Circles” to the introspective lyrics of “Little White Pills,” Cloe’s EP offers a dynamic range of emotions and experiences, creating a soundtrack anthem for long drives, lazy afternoons, and late-night me time with a glass of pinot noir. “Afterglow” is my go-to. It is sweet and unassuming and features Nicolosi in a brief appearance, blending vocally with Cloe. “Right words, wrong time,” Cloe closes her EP with “Five Years,” a song that reveals what most of us endure when we look back on a relationship that has not stood the test of time.
Just on the heels of completing a 23-city tour supporting Charlotte Sands in sold-out venues across the United States, supremely stylish Cloe has so much game left to play before she reaches the top. And who cares when she gets there, as long as she takes us along for the ride.
Featured Photo Credit: Jesse DeFlorio